Shakra, Infected, 2007

Swiss rockers Shakra have been around for some time now and judging from the info in the booklet, this is their seventh one already. How time flies when you are having fun.

And fun this record surely is. That is, for those into melodic hard rock. Singer Mark Fox has a nice hoarse edge to his vocals. Guitar players Thomas Muster and Thom Blunier are a hard riffing bunch with a vivid punch, and bass player Oliver Linder and drummer Roger Tanner hold it all together with ease.

It is evident that the band have enough experience to keep the attention going. Whether it´s the four on the floor drive of Playing With Fire, the kick ass rocker that is opener Make Your Day, or the power ballad Love Will Find A Way, it is all brought with panache and conviction. Maybe strange, but the band sometimes reminded me of Harem Scarem, and I mean that as a compliment.

The average song on the album takes 3 to 4 minutes to get you banging, so the band waste little time with fooling around. They mean business, and if this is anything to go by, business must be good…